The Bible and Homosexuality

As Christians our core concern should be biblical because “Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). As noted in a previous blog, morality is rooted in religious truth, and for the Christian that truth is found in Scripture. So what does the Bible have to say about homosexual conduct? Despite liberal attempts to re-interpret biblical condemnations of homosexual actions, God’s word is clear.

The earliest recorded, direct statement on homosexuality in the New Testament appears in 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (1 Cor is one of the earliest documents of the NT):

“do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.”

This statement deals with God’s evaluation of (unrepentant) homosexuals and regards their salvation.

In Romans 1 Paul condemns homosexuality as it comes to expression in society. He declares that homosexual conduct is biologically unnatural, morally depraved, socially indecent, and culturally degrading :

“For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper.”

In one of Paul’s last writings he declares that God’s law condemns homosexual conduct and subjects it to judicial review so that it might be curtailed. And he even declares that such condemnation is an aspect of “sound teaching” and the “gospel”:

“But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.”

Paul’s condemnation of homosexuality is rooted in his high view of God’s law. He states that the law is given “so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God” (Rom 3:19b). He does not see the law as contrary to the new covenant: “Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law” (Rom 3:31). Indeed, he sees the law as an expression of the righteousness of God: “the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.” (Rom 7:12). Spiritual sanctification moves Christians to live by standards of God’s Law (Rom 8:3–4), which defines who is truly a Christian (Rom 8:7–8)

Thus we must look back to the Old Testament to see that God’s law condemns homosexual conduct. In Leviticus 18:22 God expressly forbids such actions as morally reprehensible: “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.” In fact, in Leviticus 20:13 he severely condemns homosexual activity: “If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them.”

These are not Scriptures’ only prohibitions against homosexuality, but they are its leading, most direct ones (see: Gen 19:1–25; Jdgs 19:22–30; 2 Pet 2:6–10; Jude 7). They must impact the Christian worldview in that they are clear statements of God’s evaluation of homosexual conduct.

Clearly, homosexuality and homosexual conduct are contrary to God’s revelation. It is therefore contrary to the Christian worldview.

Homosexual Question (5 CDs by Ken Gentry) The homosexual movement is one of the leading challenges to the moral stability of American culture and to our Christian influence in culture. This sermon series tackles the homosexual question head on.
See more study materials at: www.KennethGentry.com

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